Boiler-arch construction.



P. STEVENS.

BOILER ARCH CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.4,19 13.

Patented July 14, 1914-.

UNETED STATES PATENT @FFKQE.

ENOCH 1. STEVENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-N'OR TO LOCOMOTIVE ARCH BRICK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOILERARCH CONSTRUCTION.

i ,i oases.

Specification of Zetters Patent.

Patented July Ml, 1914.

Application filed December 4, 1913. Serial No. 804,625.

To (ZZZ QUILOW/ it may concern Be it known that I, ENOCH P. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Arch Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to boiler arch constructions, and refers particularly, although not exclusively, to improvements in the side bricks adapted for use in locomotive fire boxes.

In my co-pending application Serial No. W623i, filed June 28, 1918, I pointed out that in prior constructions great difficulty resulted from the use of side bricks supported by the outer arch tubes extending through the locomotive fire box and the side sheets of the fire box on account of the fact that in such prior constructions when, by reason of the warping caused by variations in temperature, the distance between the outer arch tubes and the side sheets increased, the side bricks would move from their normal upwardly and outwardly sloping positions into more nearly horizontal positions, and when, under other temperature changes, the distancebetween the outer arch tubes and the side sheets decreased, no provision was made by which the side bricks would again return to their normal positions. On the other hand, the side bricks which moved into a more nearly horizontal plane on increase of the distance between the outer arch tubes and the side sheets exercised a wedging action when the distance between the outer arch tubes and the side sheets tended to decrease, and thus in many 1 cases caused a permanent distortion of the parts or breakage of the bricks. In order to overcome these ditiiculties I propose to construct the side bricks with a curved surface on their outer sides so that the bricks would adjust themselves to variations in distance between the outer arch tubes and the side sheets.

I have found that whilobricks made in :u-cordancc with the above description are much superior to the side bricks of the prior art, there are still ditliculties which interfere with the fully efioient operation of such side bricks. These difliculties consist in the fact that on merely providing the outer side of the brick with a curved surface either the brick engages the side sheet throughout the entire width of the former, thus increasing the frictional engagement, or, if an outer arch tube is not parallel to its adjacent side sheet, the side brick described engages the side sheet only at one corner, thustending to throw the brick out of position and interfere with uniform movement when the distance between the outer arch tube and side sheet increases or decreases.

It is the object of my present invention to overcome the dilliculties of my former construction by making the side bricks with a centrally disposed rib which is located a the outer side of each brick and extends over a portion at least of the bottom of the brick. This rib has a curved contour so that the side brick readily adjusts itself to variations in distance between the outer arch tube and the side sheet, while at thesame time there is a minimum frictional engagement between the brick and the side sheet. In this way the side brick also always engages the side sheet at its central portion irrespective of whether the side sheet is exactly parallel with the outer arch tube or not.

A further object of this construction is that by the use of such ribs openings are provided between the outer sides of the side brick and the side sheets through which cinders and other materials may readily pass.

These and other advantages of my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which:

Figure 1 is'a plan of a complete arch in stalled in a locomotive fire box. Fig. 2 is a vertical section and end elevation taken on the line Q-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the side bricks which I employ.

The arch tubes 10, 11, 12 and 13 extend longitudinally through the locomotive fire box in the well-known manner, these arch tubes being connected at their front ends to the flue sncet 14. At the sides of the fire box are located the side sheets 15.

The arch bricks 16, forming the main portion of the arch, are supported on. the arch tubes 10,11, 12 and 13, each brick being preferably upwardly arched and having ateach end a groove 17, so that the arch bricks are re- 'tained in osition between the arch tubes. Each of tie side bricks 18 normally occupies an upwardly and outwardly inclined position, as indicated in Fig. 2, one side of each brick being provided with a groove 19 which engages the arch tube 10 or 13, as the case may be, while the curved rib 20 formed on the outer side and a portion of the bottom of each side brick engages the side sheet 1.5.

As clearly appears from Figs.,2 and 3, the rib 520 of the side brick 18 is curved at its outer portion, where it engagesgthe side sheet 15. -In order to lighten the side bricks, recesses 21 and 22 are providedat the sides of the rib 20, thereby forming the two end walls 23 and 24, which, as clearly shown in Fig. '3, are preferably made with a curved contour on their bottoms and outer sides so that if after long use the rib 20 becomes worn down the brick may still have engagement with a curved surface of one or the other or both of the walls 23 and 24;.

It will be evident that by the use of the side bricks which I have described when there is any variation in the distance between the outer arch tubes and the side sheets, owing to varying heat conditions, the side bricks 18 readily adjust themselves to such variations by movement of the ribs 20 on the side sheets. At the same time the openings 25 are provided between the side",- bricks 18 and the side sheets 15, through which cinders or other accumulations may pass. These openings 25 also provide a path for a small portion of the gases of combustion, whereby the heat is more evenly distribluted throughout the entire extent of the are 1.

It will be evident to anyone slurred in the .art that various changes could be made in the details of the arch which I have described without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In aboiler arch construction, a side brick, comprising a body portion and a rib projecting from one side and a portion of the bottom of said body portion, saidrib having "a curved contour, said side brick adapted to be supported in an upwardly and outwardly inclined position with one side en gaging an arch tube and with said curved 2. In, a boiler arch constri ction, a side v brick comprlsing abody portion and a rib projecting from one side and a portion of .the bottom of said body portion, said rib havin a curved contour, said brick being provi edwith recesses in its body portion and adapted to be supported in an upwardly and outwardly inclined osition with one side engaging an arch tu e and with said curved ribengaging a boiler side sheet, whereby said brick adapts itself to variations in the distance between said arch tube and said side sheet.

3. In a boiler arch construction, a side brick comprisin a body portion, a rib projectin'g in a" me nm line from{ one side'and a ,portion of. the bottom of said body portion, 'said' rib having a curved contour, said brick having recesses in its under surface on opposite sides of said rib, and end walls having their outer and bottom portions with a curved tontour, said brick adapted to be supported in an upwardly and outwardly inclined position with one side engaging an arch tube and with said rib engaging a boileu side sheet, whereby said brick adapts itself'to variations in the distance between said arch tube and said side sheet, and on wearing away of said rib the side sheet is engaged by the curved surface of one of said end walls.

4.I n boiler arch construction, a side brick. comprisin a body portion having a groove atone si e, and a rib projecting from the dpposite side and a portion of the bot-' tom of said body portion, said rib having a curved contour, said side brick being adapt- .ed' to be supported in an upwardly and out wardly inclined position, with said groove engaging a boiler arch tube and with said,

rib engagin a boiler side sheet}, whereby *said brick adapts itsel f'to variations in the distance between said arch tube and said side sheet.

ENOCH P. STEVENS.

Witnesses: i

HENRY M. Hominy HELEN JAoous. 

